Little Brown Jug Special Edition

POSTED Sep 18, 2012
By
Frank Cotolo

It’s another year to celebrate America’s Great Pace, the
Little Brown Jug. It means a week of local Ohio stakes mixed with Grand
Circuitry, so to speak, and starring some of the season’s top start in every
division.

It all takes place in Delaware, Ohio, on the speedy but
narrow half-mile track at the fairgrounds. Nothing will stop the trotters and
pacers participating in the fair meet; this week is a challenge for more fame
than fortune and certainly a place in harness racing history.

Than being said, let’s endeavor handicapping some of the
races, all during the week, concluding with the long “Jug” program on Sept. 20.

Let’s begin with the Jugette elim heats on Sept. 18. The
Jugette is the Little Brown Jug’s sister companion, for soph-filly pacers. The
two heats could be where value surfaces best, since any great-paying filly will
go on to the final and be wagered upon much more than in her elim.

There is little doubt that American Jewel will be all out to
use her trademark speed, gunning for the top early from post 7 and pushing
herself if challenged. That will be the key in the first $59,210 elim—the big
choice getting challenged.

There is an outsider in this group that needs to be noticed.
She is Upfront Secret. Looking at her recent performances it seems she has been
racing with far less class than the likes of American Jewel. However, the
Scioto Downs purses are not high and you can see that she shipped to
Philadelphia and won with ease, going faster than she has been able to in Ohio.
Corey Callahan will drive and can add to the upset possibilities.

With American Jewel leaving from the outside, being pressed
to get the lead and keep it from challengers (Persistent and Bettor B Lucky may
take flight early), Upfront Secret may be in a perfect spot. Whether she rides
the rail or comes first over late to pass tired horses or swings from second
over behind live cover, she could be the best investment in this elim.

The second $59,210 elim takes on a similar situation, with
the early choice, Economy Terror, leaving from post 7. I don’t understand how
the morning line on Rockaround Sue could be 10-1. We feel her chances are
better than that and she certainly fits into the contender category. If she can
settle near the front early and not be buried by the blast of speed that seems
to want to launch here from the inside out, we may be looking at a second
Jugette elim longshot.

There would be no surprises if some of these won their elims, no less the
second heat which caps the title. But the elims are were we can find value, so
we have to deal with them.

In the first elim a quirk, we
think, was making Michael’s Power the morning-line favorite. The crowd should
be spreading win bets out, taking shots on Bolt The Duer and Thinking Out Loud.
This trio is filled with Achilles’’ heels, which is what opens up the inside
two colts to upset possibilities.

The rail horse, Escape The News,
has suffered from awful trips that compromised his speed. The Joe
Holloway-trained pacer has battled in good company and this could be the track
he likes the most. To his right, Major Bombay, coming off of a two-race win
streak in New York, loves the half-miles. But if he cannot shake loose while
Escape The News attempts a wire job, he may be cooked. Still, both of these
qualify as contenders and we can be sure their lack of star power will keep the
odds juicy.

In the second elim the buzz was
automatic as soon as the draw was official. Most public handicappers will tell
you that Sweet Lou has a mission from post 1. Though simple and obvious, the
question of his being short, even on this track, is a heavy one.

Also, we cannot expect A Rocknroll
Dance to allow Sweet Lou an easy path to victory. From post 7 A Rocknroll Dance
will be looking to use his speed early as a direct challenge for the lead or
midway with a big brush.

This could leave one colt to pick
up the pieces: Dapper Dude. Certainly, driver John Campbell knows this course
and the finicky routes to the top. Along with the style of this horse, the two
are a perfect mix and certainly have the recent form to go all the way here and
maybe in the second heat, too.

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